Feed mechanism for stapling machines



Feb. 20, 1951 R. E. PETERSON 2,542,879

FEED MECHANISM FOR STAPLING MACHINES Original Filed. March 31, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'IIIIIIIIAIlllllllllllllllln I" .a VIII'II'IIA YIIIIIIIIJIIII, 6 6

Patented Feb. 20, 1951 FEED MECHANISM FOR STAPLING MACHINES Roy E. Peterson, Norwalk, Count, assignor to The E. H. Hotchkiss Company, Nor-walk; Conn., a corporation of Delaware Original application March 31, 1947, Serial No. 738.367. Divided and this application June 9, 1950, Serial No. 167,198

6 Claims.

This. invention relates to. a staple driving machine, and particularly to the type of stapler which, will drive and clinch the staples in the work, and has for an object to provide a construction which can be: incorporated in a staple driving machine of a very small, compact construction. In fact, it can. be made of a con.- structi-on which is no larger or heavier than. the common type of cigarette lighter, and can, therefore, be readily carried, in a. hand bag or vest and. opposite end views respectively of the staple pocket, or the like. uide member.

Another object is to provide a structure in The scale of Figs. .12 to 19 is substantially. which the operation of loading the staples into natural size. the machine is greatly'simplified, and. which does This application is a division or my prior not require the removal or disengagement of any application Serial No. 738,367, filed March 31, of the parts. 1947, for Staple Driving Machine, and issued: Another object is to provide a. staple driving as U- S. Letters Patent No. 2,511,003, on June machine of this type which is very simple, and 13, 1950.. is easy to operate, it being merely necessary to The device. comprises a housing I including insert the parts to be stapled and then press uouter and inner casings '2 and 3. The outer the device with a simple hand operation. casing comprises an upright front wall 4 and two- A still further object is to provide a stapling laterally spaced. rearwardly extending side walls machine which not only may be readily carried 5. The inner casing. 3 comprises an upright rear in. the pocket or handbag, for example, but is wall 6 and laterally spaced side walls 1, this particularly adapted for effecting temporary inner casing being enclosed within the outer casrepairs on various articles as garments, for ing with its side walls I at the inner sidesof example, to pin on flowers or other decorations, the side walls 5 of the outer casing. The two for stapling notes, reports, memos, receipts andcasings. are open at the top and. closed by an so forth; or it can be used by doctors for fastenoperating lever 8, preferably of substantially ing bandages, papers and the like. an inverted U shape in cross section, including the With the foregoing and other objects in view, top wall. 9., side walls It embracing and located I have devised the construction illustrated in. the at the. outer sides. of the side walls 5,. and, a frontv accompanying drawings forming a party of this end wall H. This lever is pivotally mounted specification. It is, however, to be understood adjacent the rear end thereof in the housing by the. invention is not limited to the specific details a transverse pin l2, and the rear end portion of of construction and arrangement shown, but may the top wall 9 in normal position engages thev embody various changes and modifications. within top edges of the side walls 5 and l, as indicated. the scope of the. invention. at so and 1a, and upper end it of the rear" Inthese. drawings: Wall 6', to limit upward movement of the lever 8. Fig. 1 is a side elevation 01 the machine on 40. Mounted in the lower portion of the housing an enlarged scale; is a. staple guide means I 4. This includesthe Fig. 2 is a. front View thereof staple guide. bar l5. which is preferably of sub- Fig. 3 is a rear view of the device; stantially U-shape with the space between the Fig. 4 is a longitudinal. section just inside the side walls l6 closed at the rear end of the bar side wall of the machine with some of the parts by a filler block ll. On the under side of this broken, away to more clearly show the construcbar, also at the rear. end portions thereof, is a tion, and showing the. parts in the. normal posisupporting member l8 which is of substantiallytion of operation; inverted U shape. and somewhat wider than. the Fig. 5 is a detail section substantiallyon the. bar l'5, this member l8 being a mounting for line 5-5 of Fig- 4; the bar between the side walls 5 of the outer Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 4 of the rear "casing, the greater width. of the supporting memportion of the machine showing the staple feed her [8 spacing the side walls It of the guide bar follower retracted; from the side walls 5 to provide a space IQ for Fig. 7 is a similar section showing the follower the prongs of the staples, 2B,, and the sides of the raised or removed from the staple guide to permit substantially inverted U-shaped follower 2!.

(Cl. 1r-49) the loading of a staple strip into the machine;

Figs. 8 and 9 are sections substantially on lines 8--8 and 9-4 respectively of Fig. 4;:

Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14 are a side, top, and opposite end views respectively of the base or anvil carrying member, and

Figs. 15,, 16, 17, 18 and 19 are side, top, bottom The guide bar is secured to the support l8 by any suitable means, such, for example, as spot welding 22, rivets, or any other suitable means. The lower edges of the rear portions of the side walls 5 of the outer casing are extended down wardly, as shown at 23, to provide ears between which the member I8 is mounted by any suitable means such as the cross pins or rivets 24' and 24a, and this, therefore, supports the staple.

guide bar |5 in the lower part of the housing. The lower edges 25 of the side walls I of the inner casing stop a short distance above the top a substantially horizontal or slightly curved poredges of the side walls It of the staple guide, as

' also the top wall of the inverted U-shaped follower 2|. At the rear end portion each of these walls is provided with an upwardly extending.

notch 26, for a purpose presently to be described. The lower edges 25 of these side wallsform a top guide for the staple strip2|l and the follower 2| to retain them on the staple guide M.

The front wall 4 of the housing is spaced forwardly from the front end of thestaple guide bar l5 and the forward edges 21 of the side walls l 'of theinner casing to form a guideway for a vertically reciprocable staple driver 28, and at the lower end of this guideway form a raceway for the forward staple 20a. to be driven. This driver 28 is preferably a fiat strip of steel normally positioned with its lower end 28 spaced ashort distance above the forward staple and, and with its upper end 30 resting against the underside of the top wall 5 of the operating lever 8.' A lug 3| is lanced and bent backwardly from this driver to receive the forward loop 32 of a spring 33 supported in the housing by looping over transverse' pin 39, and the free ends of the other arms 35 resting against a transverse pin 36, This spring is tensioned so that it tends to lift the staple driver 28 to raise it to its upper position of Fig. 4, and with it the operating lever 8, this movement being limited by the rear end of the top wall of the lever engaging the top end 3'of the upright rear wall 6 and top edge portions 1a. and 5a of the side walls 1 and 5 of the casings.

'A novel improved means is provided for advancing the follower 2| to the staple strip 26 along the staple guide bar |5 to bringthe staples successively to the forward end of this bar under the lower end of the driver 28. and into driving position. This comprises a member or lever 31 having a down-turned end pivotally connected at 38 to the. follower 2 I. It may be connected by a substantially U-shaped member 39 secured to the top of the follower 2| by any suitable means, such, for example, as spot welding 411. vAt its opposite end the member 31 is pivoted at ii to one end of the second member or lever 42, the other, end 43 of this lever or member being prefer-j ably rounded and seating on top of the block l1 and resting against the lower portion of the rear upright wall 6, forming an abutment or,.holding means for the free end of this member.. This member may be of any suitable shape, but is preferably of substantially U-shape in cross sec tion to provide side walls 44 between which the tion 5| and an upright angular portion 52. Mounted in an intermediate portion of the member 31 is a finger grip comprising a pair of heads or knobs 53 on the outer side walls of the housing and connected by a transverse rod or pin 54 a mounted in the member 31 and extending through the slots 50. This forms a guide means for the member 31 during forward movement of the follower 2|, but especially forms a retracting means for the follower 2| to permit loading of a new staple strip onto the guide means l4 or specifically the guide bar I5. When the staples have been exhausted and the operator wishes to load a new strip of staples in the machine, he grips the two heads or knobs 53 of the finger grip in any suitable manner, such, for example, with his thumb and first linger on opposite sides'of the casing, and slides them rearwardly in the curved or horizontal portions 5| of the slots 50 to the rear as far as it will go. This brings the parts to substantially the position of Fig. 6, shifting the follower 2| rearwardly on the guide bar 5 to the rear end of this bar, as shown in Fig. 6. This is permitted by the two members 31 and A2 swinging together about their connecting pivot 4|, the member '42 being held by the rear upright wall 6, and as the two members fold together somewhat like a jack-knife, as shown in Fig. 6, this brings the follower 2| under the recesses or notches 26 in the lower edges of the side walls 5 of the inner casing, and also brings the transverse pin 5- carrying the knobs or heads 53 of the finger grip into alignment with the lower ends of the upright slots 52. Then, by lifting this finger grip upwardly, this pin 54 will slide upwardly in the portions 52 of the slots and will carry the pivotally connected members 31 and 42 with it, the rearward member 42 sliding on the inner surface of the upright wall 6. This brings the parts to the position of Fig. 7, and it will be seen that the operation of raising the members 3'! and 42 lifts the staple feed follower 2| from the staple guide bar l5 and carries it above this bar into theIrecesses or notches 25.

This, therefore, removes the follower from the staple guide bar I5 and permits the operator to insert a new staple strip onto this bar at the rear end I50. thereof and pass it under the follower to a position forwardly of the follower. Then by reversing the movement of the finger grip members 53, the follower 2| and the members 31 and 42 are shifted downwardly to the position of Fig. 6, again replacing the follower 2| on the guide bar I5 to the rear of the staple strip. Then,

when released, the spring 41 swings the member 3? forwardly and carries pin 54 along the horizontal portions of the slots 5|) and shifts the follower 2| forwardly to feed or advance the staples to the stapling position.

If only just this much of the device is used, it can be used as a tacker to drive. the staples staples, then an anvil 55 is provided under the protes er the staple after it isdriven through.

recesses 58 under the staple driver, which may act to fold the prongs in either direction for the clinching operation, depending on the shape and location of these recesses; The block 55 may be secured to the member 56 by any suitable means, such, for example, as spot welding 59. This member 56 is pivotally' connected to. the housing, and particuiarly the downwardly extendingwings or lugs 23, by means of a transverse pin 60; the rear end portion of the side.

walls of the member 56 being extended upward- 1y, as shown at 61', to embrace the opposite side walls of .the housing,v and. specifically the upright side walls 5 of the outer casing. This member or lever 56 is normally held with its forward end and the anvil spaced from the lower edge of the staple guide bar l5 by means of a spring 62, including an intermediate loop 63 about the transverse pin 24a, and with its opposite free arms 64 and 65 engaging the top wall of the member l8 and the connecting bottom wall 66 of the member 56, forwardly of the pivot 60, so as to tend to swing the member 56 downwardly with its forward end spaced from the 1 lower side of the staple guide bar, this movement being limited by the lower edges 61 of the side ears 23 engaging the bottom wall 66 of the member 56. a

In use of the device, assuming staples have already been loaded into the machine, the work to be stapled is inserted between the top of the lower hinged member 56 and the under side of the staple bar l5 and the lower edge of the housing, as shown at 51 in Fig. 1. The device may be supported with the member 56 resting on some support, such, for example, as a table or desk, or it could be held in the operators hand, with the thumb or fingers under the member 56 and the fingers or thumb on top of the operating lever 8. Then, by depressing the forward end of the lever 8 the housing is first swung downwardly about the pivot 60 to. the dot-and-dash line position of Fig. 1, bringing the lower edge of the forward part of the housing and the under edge of the staple guide bar l5 against the top of the work, as indicated by the dot-and-dash lines of Fig. 1. Then further depression of the lever 8 to the dotted line position of this figure will depress the staple driver 28 to force the forward staple 20a downwardly and to drive the prongs of this staple through the work, and by pressure of the free ends of the prongs against the recesses 58 of the anvil to clinch these prongs on the under side of the work. When the lever B is released the spring 33 will retract the staple driver 26 upwardly and shift it to its upper position of Fig. 4, carrying with it the lever 8. At the same time the spring 62 will swing the casing upwardly, or member 55 downwardly, about the pivot (it to separate the lower edge of the casing and the member 56 for insertion of work for the next stapling operation.

The device is shown in the drawings on an enlarged scale of about twice the size intended to be made, but of course it is not limited to lift any given size but may be made of any size desired The compact arrangement pern'tits-- the assembly in. avery smallconstruction; in fact no larger than the standard type cigarette lighter; so' that it may be readily carried in the vest pocket or in the handbag orthe like; but ofcourse the mechanism involved may be used in larger scale constructions if desired. It will be seen the novel staple feed mechanism permits the shifting of this mechanism, and particularly the follower, to an inoperative position away from the. staple guide without removing anythingfrom the machine or disconnecting anything from it. simplifies the operation 0t reloading; the machine, and obviates the. possibility of losing or misplacing. any of the. parts. It is a very simple device. and. is. particularly adaptable for. making. temporary repairs to gar-- ments, such, for example, as slip straps, hems,. garters and so forth, or pinning on flowers for decorations, and similar uses. this also verypractical for students forv clipping notes and other papers, or for salesmen in clipping together reports, memos, orders and the like. It is also very handy for housewives for clipping together bills, recipes and memos, and doctors may employ it for connecting bandages, papers and so forth. It may be made of all steel construction, or of other materials, as found practical or desirable. 1

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, I claim:

1. A staple driving machine comprising a hous ing including spaced side walls, a staple guide bar, means for feeding staples along the bar to driving position comprising a follower, a pair of pivotally connected levers, one of said levers being pivoted to the follower at its free end, an abutment in the housing for the free end of the other lever, and a spring tending to swing the levers about their connecting pivot to shift the follower along the bar.

2. A staple driving machine comprising a staple guide, means for feeding staples along the guide to driving position comprising a follower movable along the guide, a member pivoted at one end to the follower, a second member pivoted at one end to the other end of the first member, a holding means for the other end of the second member, and a spring tending to swing the members about their connecting pivot to shift the follower along the guide.

3. A staple driving machine comprising a staple guide, means for feeding staples along the guide to driving position comprising a follower movable along the guide, a member pivoted at one end to the follower, a second member pivoted at one end to the other end of the first member, a holding means for the other end of the second member, and a spring comprising an intermediate bend mounted on the pivot between the members and arms on the opposite sides of said bend tending to swing the members about said pivot to feed the follower along the guide.

4. A staple driving machine comprising a housing including spaced side walls, a staple guide, means for feeding staples along the guide to driving position comprising a follower movable along the guide, a member pivoted at one end to the follower, a second member pivoted to the other end of the first member, a holding means for the second member spaced from said pivot, a spring tending to swing the first member about the pivot between the members to feed the fol loweralong the guide,"a side wall of'thehousing being provided with a guide slot, a finger grip on the first member projecting through said slot, said slot comprisin a substantially horizontal portion and an upright angular portion, and said finger grip being movable along the first portion of the slot to retract the follower and then into the upright portion to lift the follower from the guide to permit loading of a staple strip onto the guide under the follower. 1

5. A staple driving machine comprising a housing, a staple guide mounted in the housing, means in the housing for feeding staples along the guide to the driving position comprising a follower movable along the guide, means in they housing for shifting the follower along the guide to advance the staples including a'member connected with the'follower, a spring cooperating with said member to shift the follower, a finger grip connected with said member, and means mounting said follower shifting means in the housing for retraction of the follower along the guide and lifting of it from the guide by action 8" of the finger grip while the means is retained 7-inthe housing.

6. A staple driving machine comprising a housing including an upright rear wall, astaple guide mounted inthe lower part of the housing, means in the housing for feeding staples along the guide to driving position comprisin a follower movable along the guide, means in the housing for] shifting the follower to advance the staples in cluding a pair of pivotally connected members one of which is pivotally connectedto the follower and the other of which is guided by said rear wall, a spring coacting with the first me n ber to shift the follower, a finger grip connected with the follower operating means, and means mounting said members inthe housing to permitshifting of said members by the finger grip to retract the follower and shift them upwardly to liftthe follower from the guide to clear the guidefor loading a staple'strip onto the guide.

ROY E. PETERSON.

No references cited. 

